2 detainees escape Zamboanga prison cell

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Two detainees facing charges of illegal drugs and firearms possession bolted from their cell in Zamboanga City early Monday, a security official said. 

The escapees were identified as Argie Garingan-Gadjali and Luie Palas, according to Police Senior Inspector Joel Tuttuh, commander of Police Station 3 in Barangay Sangali.

Tuttuh said the two detainees bolted about 1 a.m. from their cell by cutting one of the iron grills with hacksaw blade before escaping undetected by the desk officer, who was just beside the detention cells.

He said the police duty officer only discovered the escape of the two detainees two hours later.

Tuttuh said the fugitives were arrested last July 7 in a nearby fishing port area during a drug raid.

He said the police are now on an escapee hunt and investigating how the hacksaw blade was slipped into the hands of the escapees.